McKinzie possible for BC Classic or Clark Handicap

BENSALEM, Pa. - McKinzie and Axelrod, the first- and second-place finishers in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Saturday, will both be headed home to California as their trainers consider where they will start next.

Trainer Bob Baffert sent out McKinzie for a 1 3/4-length score in the Pa. Derby off a more-than-six-month layoff. Jockey Mike Smith challenged for the lead with McKinzie on the far turn of the 1 1/8-mile race and came into the stretch in front by himself. He turned back a solid bid from Axelrod in midstretch to prevail.

Mckinzie earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, his top number by six points. Axelrod was given a 101, 10 points higher than his previous best.

Baffert said both McKinzie and Collected "looked great" Sunday morning following their races at Parx. Collected finished fourth in the $150,000 Pennsylvania Derby Champion Stakes while making his first start since January.

Baffert said two possible next races for McKinzie were the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Down on Nov. 3 and the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill on Nov. 23.

"I’ll just get him home and see how he’s doing," Baffert said.

Although disappointed with Collected's race, Baffert said he expects him to improve.

"He was a little fat, a little heavy," Baffert said. "I needed to get him going and thought the race might be a little easier than it came up. It was either send him to Parx or run him against Accelerate at Santa Anita."

Axelrod continues to improve for trainer Michael McCarthy. He came into the Pa. Derby off wins in the Smarty Jones and Indiana Derby - both Grade 3s - and was facing markedly tougher company in the Pa. Derby.

Axelrod made a strong bid after McKinzie in upper stretch but McKinzie found another gear and held him off. It was 7 1/2 lengths back to longshot Trigger Warning in third.

"I'm proud of him, I thought he ran super," McCarthy said. "He's just getting better and better. He's taking his training much more serious now and his confidence is through the roof."

McCarthy said Axelrod would be considered for the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Clark, but that there also were other races coming up across the country.

"It's the fall of the year, so we have a lot of options," McCarthy said. "We are going to evaluate all of them."